Pirates seek more treasure

→ Orlando Pirates look a banker bet in the expected R2-million TAB Soccer 10 pool on Saturday when they face Stellenbosch in the MTN8 final at the Mbombela Stadium in a repeat of last year's final, which they won 3-1 in Durban – but it might pay to go wide TAB's Sunday Soccer pools where all eyes will be on the Manchester derby where City and United have both been rather unconvincing.

- By Mark Gleeson

Club football returns on the weekend and the biggest question is whether shaken-up Orlando Pirates can put aside the distractions of the last fortnight as they look to defend their MTN8 title.

They face Stellenbosch.

With their victory last year, they became the first club to win the top eight title three years in a row in the more than 50-year history of the competition, and Pirates can now take that milestone even further.

It is also the perfect opportunity for new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou to win over the fans in the way that cup success for his predecessor, José Riveiro, earned the tiny Spaniard the backing of the supporters.

Ouaddou, along with defender Thapelo Xoki and goalkeeper coach Tyrone Damons, were injured in a car accident last week and spent a few days in hospital but they have since returned to the training ground.